ZocDoc Launches in Phoenix Area, Offering Doctor Appointments Instantly Online
Over 120,000 Medical Appointments Now Available in the Phoenix Region on ZocDoc

PHOENIX, Aug. 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Today ZocDoc, a free online service for patients to instantly book appointments with doctors, launches in the Greater Phoenix metropolitan area. ZocDoc is improving access to healthcare by allowing patients to find local doctors, sort by location and insurance plan, read verified reviews, and book appointments online at ZocDoc.com. Patients can also find nearby doctors and make appointments using the free ZocDoc App for iPhone and Android.

As of today, appointments with primary care physicians, obstetricians/gynecologists, dermatologists and dentists are available in greater Phoenix. More than 120,000 appointments with nearby doctors are available in the Phoenix area on ZocDoc. Additional doctors, specialties and appointment times will be added in the coming months.

To use ZocDoc to find a nearby doctor and book an appointment, patients visit the ZocDoc website or use one of the free ZocDoc Apps to enter their location, insurance accepted and the type of medical provider they wish to see. ZocDoc then shows physicians' schedules in real-time, in addition to verified credentials and reviews written by patients in order to help patients choose a doctor that best fits their needs. Patients simply select a time slot and complete a brief checkout process to book an appointment. ZocDoc then sends email and text message reminders with a map to the doctor's office to help patients remember to attend their appointments.

Currently, new patients in major U.S. cities like Phoenix must wait nearly three weeks on average to get an appointment with a doctor, according to a study by national health care search and consulting firm Merritt Hawkins & Associates. ZocDoc brings much-needed efficiency and transparency to the health care system, resulting in shorter wait times for patients. Forty percent of all appointments scheduled by ZocDoc users occur within one day, and more than 60 percent of ZocDoc appointments take place within three days.

"Phoenix area doctors have welcomed ZocDoc into their offices in order to provide better service for their existing patients and attract new clients to their practice," said Cyrus Massoumi, ZocDoc co-founder and CEO. "As of today, patients in Phoenix can expect to save time and avoid hassle when finding a doctor and booking a medical appointment."

Dr. Oliver Kharraz, co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of ZocDoc, looks forward to helping Phoenix residents improve their health. "By allowing patients to find doctors who accept their insurance and can see them on short notice, ZocDoc cuts down on costly out-of-network fees and unnecessary trips to the emergency room," said Kharraz. "By lowering health care costs and improving wait times, we hope to see more Phoenix patients taking advantage of doctor appointments available in their neighborhood to get the care they need when they need it."

Phoenix is the tenth city to receive ZocDoc service. The website currently offers appointments in New York, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Houston, Philadelphia, Atlanta and Phoenix. To learn more about ZocDoc, please visit the ZocDoc press room. Keep up on the latest ZocDoc news on the ZocDoc blog, via Twitter or on Facebook.

About ZocDoc

ZocDoc, founded in 2007, is improving access to healthcare by enabling patients to search for doctors, sort by location and insurance accepted, read verified reviews, and instantly book an appointment online or via the free ZocDoc Apps for iPhone and Android. There are more than 5 million medical appointments available on ZocDoc. Approximately 700,000 people use ZocDoc to find a doctor or dentist each month.